Sky watchers in Washington state are set to see a partial lunar eclipse on Thursday, Aug. 27, according to online clock Time and Date. The event will coincide with August’s full moon, which will reach peak illumination in the state at 9:18 p.m. that day. North and South America will have the best views of the moon, which will take on a reddish-orange hue. The eclipse will reach a maximum of 96% totality, making it nearly full, but it will not be a true blood moon because lunar totality will not occur. During totality, the entire lunar surface falls under Earth’s shadow, but that will not happen this time.
August’s full moon is known as the sturgeon moon, a name tied to the abundance of fish that could be easily caught in the Great Lakes at this time of year, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. Sturgeon were an important food staple for Native Americans, the almanac said. The early phases of the eclipse likely will not be visible, as the sun may still be out and the eclipse may be below the horizon. After sunset, the moon’s appearance will change dramatically as it dims and shifts in color.
The moon appears red during an eclipse because Earth blocks most of the sun’s light from reaching it, according to NASA. The light that does reach the moon is filtered through Earth’s atmosphere, NASA said. NASA described the effect as being as if all of the world’s sunrises and sunsets are projected onto the moon. This effect is most apparent during totality, but even a partial eclipse changes the moon’s hue.
No special equipment or eyewear is needed to see the lunar eclipse, according to NASA. Binoculars or a telescope can enhance the viewing experience, but they are not necessary. For the best view, observers should get away from city lights, as less light pollution will improve visibility. A light pollution map can help locate optimal places for watching the blood moon.
The event follows the Perseid meteor shower, giving sky watchers in the region another striking sight. The moon will pass into Earth’s umbral shadow, causing it to dim and look slightly reddish-orange, as noted by Space.com. While the eclipse will be nearly total, the lack of full totality means the moon will not achieve the deep red that characterizes a total lunar eclipse. Observers across the Americas are expected to have the clearest view of the phenomenon.
